Do you ever think about what you would do if your house was on fire?
Luke 17:20-37 – Focus on verses 31 to 37
20 Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, 21 nor will people say, “Here it is,” or “There it is,” because the kingdom of God is in your midst.’
22 Then he said to his disciples, ‘The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. 23 People will tell you, “There he is!” or “Here he is!” Do not go running off after them. 24 For the Son of Man in his day
will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
26 ‘Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.
28 ‘It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29 But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulphur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.
30 ‘It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. 32 Remember Lot’s wife!33 Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it. 34 I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35 Two women will be grinding corn together; one will be taken and the other left.’
37 ‘Where, Lord?’ they asked.
He replied, ‘Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.’
I know it’s crazy, but often I think about what I would do if our house was on fire. I know where we keep our “important” documents, where the keys/phone/wallet are, and who I need to account for. I know where my main exit points are or which windows I could break down. I suppose I am prepared.
I find this passage confusing to understand. But in reading this passage, I am struck by how my thinking is often based on things of this world – the here and now. However, on the day when Jesus returns, all of our wealth, possessions, greatest achievements, good deeds, acts to preserve our lives – will not exist, they will not save us from our sinfulness. Yet, how often do I turn to those things rather than turning to Christ? If all these things will not last, and if I truly believe that Jesus is going to return – why am I so anxious about them?
Gaining wealth and possessions will not last on that final day. Likewise, we read in verses 34 and 35 that some people will not be taken. Only people who know Jesus and trust in his mercy will be taken. This is a pretty confronting passage, particularly when I have friends and family in mind who I love who do not know Jesus. Friends and family who are blind to the salvation that is found in Jesus. Friends and family who need a saviour. I am confronted by this thought that if only people will last on that day – how am I investing into that right now? How can I use the things I have now to share the good news of Jesus with those I love?
We should be living a life that is prepared for when Jesus returns, knowing that it is only him who saves – Christ alone. Jesus will take us home to be with our heavenly father. May we continue to keep our lives fixed on Christ in these days that are full of distraction. May we be prepared for that day and help others to be prepared too.
Head: Do you know that Jesus has saved you? Is your heart prepared?
Heart: How do you make your decisions in life? Are they based on selfish convictions or on Christ convictions?
Hands: Who in your life needs to know Jesus’ mercy? What is one thing you can do today to build a relationship with that person so that they may know Jesus?
Prayer:
Gracious Father,
Thank you for your grace that is shown to us through your son Jesus. Thank you that we can know you and that you know us completely.
We await the day that we are able to be with you completely. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on you and you alone, to be living for you in every way in our lives. Create a desire within us to share your grace with those around us so that they may know you too.
May you continue to be our hope and our light in this world.
Amen.
A song to listen to: In Christ Alone
Ellen Wilcox
Living Church – Creek Road